eli5: Do people actually visibly turn pale (ex. when they realize something awful, when they’re scared, etc)?

Question

I’m not sure if “turning white/pale” is an exaggeration or if people actually do turn pale in certain situations. I’ve never witnessed it myself, anyone here who has?

In: Biology

Answer 1

Fear causes blood to rush to other parts of the body, draining out of your face and leaving it pale. This is part of the fight or flight response.